Community Standards

Men and women of God are suited for Christian service by moral
character as well as by academic achievement and spiritual gifts. Among
their qualifications should be compassion for individual persons,
sensitivity to the needs of the communities of which they are a part, a
commitment to justice, a burden that the whole of God's will be obeyed
on earth, personal integrity, a desire for moral growth, and mutual
accountability. Students and employees at Fuller Theological Seminary
are expected to exhibit these moral characteristics.

The ethical
standards of Fuller Theological Seminary are guided by an understanding
of Scripture and a commitment to its authority regarding all matters of
Christian faith and living. The seminary community also desires to honor
and respect the moral tradition of the churches who entrust students to
us for education. These moral standards encompass every area of life,
but prevailing confusion about specific areas leads the community to
speak clearly about them. Students receiving training in a discipline
for which there are professional ethical standards are subject to those
as well.

Enrollment in or employment by Fuller Theological
Seminary includes a commitment by each individual to adhere to all of
the seminary's published policies and ethical standards.

Seven
statements of community standards are affirmed by all trustees, faculty,
administrators/managers, staff, and students of the seminary. These
are:

In
the application of these community standards, the seminary urges the
practice of loving verbal confrontation when any member of a Christian
community feels that another member is living in violation of what the
Bible teaches about Christian conduct. The seminary, therefore,
encourages individuals to follow, where feasible, the steps of verbal
confrontation and dialogue described in Matthew 18:15-22.

The
seminary encourages any of its community who are in special need to seek
education and counsel. The seminary is committed to extending Christian
love to those involved in strife, marital conflict, or the struggle for
sexual identity; and to demonstrating the personal forgiveness
available through Christ for all human failure.

The use of
seminary disciplinary procedures should always be viewed as a last
resort. In no way do they exempt the seminary from making every possible
effort to guide the honest pursuit of truth, to encourage wholesome
approaches to sexuality, to support stable family life, or to model
community relationships that convey respect for people and property.